Thick Walls, Thicker Bonds

Chapter Eight

May the gods be ever in your favour,

~James

Days passed like a dream. The summer was warm, the house was secluded… and he was home. Sirius found himself wondering if he'd really left Azkaban at all, if he hadn't gone completely bonkers, if Remus wasn't really here with him curled around his skeletal, unlovely body in their soft bed.

Their soft bed in SEVERUS' house no less.

At first it slightly bothered Sirius that his bond mate had his own guest bedroom in his childhood rival's house, but after several meals painstakingly prepared by the Potion's Master and several more conversations with Severus and Remus, Sirius found that his old 'enemy' wasn't as much of a slimy snake as he originally thought.

It was thanks to Severus, after all, that he had back his freedom, his fortune, and his furry lover. It had been three days since he'd gotten his name cleared and been declared Lord of the once thought doomed house of Black. If Sirius wanted to, he was now free to make a home for himself and his mate on one of his many properties. However, for some reason, Sirius felt reluctant to leave.

He wasn't exactly sure where this reluctance came from. Sirius yawned and nuzzled his face down deeper into Remus' neck, sighing contentedly, deeply breathing in the scent of woodland, moist earth and coffee. Remus' arms tightened around his middle, his chin resting on the back of Sirius' hair. A knock on the door made Sirius blearily raise his head. Severus was standing there, arms crossed, in the door way. Not being able to resist the temptation, Sirius childishly stuck his nose in the air, then flopped back down on his side, facing away from the Potions Master. Remus huffed out a surprised grunt from the force of Sirius dropping all of his weight on him.

If Severus was amused by his—dare he say it—friend's antics, he only showed it by the slight twitching of one cheek. But that small sign didn't go unnoticed by the werewolf who was now fully away, nose twitching at the smells of cinnamon rolls and omelettes wafting in from the kitchen.

"It's nearly ten o'clock," Severus announced in a patronising manner, as if the two 'dunderheads' couldn't read the clock that was sitting not three feet away on the dresser. "If you two decide to get up sometime before noon, breakfast is waiting for you. And let's not forget, Black, that you've yet to write your RSVP to the Malfoys for the Summer Gala." At this, Sirius muttered something that was muffled and mad unintelligible by the pillows.

"C'mon, Siri," said Remus, who had somehow understood his mate. "You owe it to Lucius to at least show up, grab some food and make small talk. You wouldn't have to stay for long. Just long enough to thank him in person." Sirius mumbled something else, which made both Severus and Remus roll their eyes. Remus pushed Sirius off of him, deftly transporting the animagus onto the cold floor. Sirius yelped, sounding very much like an actual dog for a moment, leaping up off the floor. Remus paid him no mind, instead stretching languidly as Sirius massaged his now sore behind, glaring at him. "Those cinnamon rolls smell heavenly, Severus. Thank you."

"Any bacon?" Sirius asked. Remus chuckled as he dragged himself out of bed. Severus only raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of host would I be if I forgot to feed the dog?" Severus asked. Sirius beamed at him, throwing a fist in the air before tackling the other man in a grateful, almost giddy, hug, before tearing out of the room in search of his breakfast.

***1047***

Dumbledore knew without a doubt that the newly discovered Slytherin would be attending the Malfoy's gala next week. He also knew without a doubt that he wouldn't be receiving an invitation himself. However, there was a chance that Sirius Black would be getting one as Lord Black. If he played his cards right, there was a chance that he could convince Sirius to take him as a guest.